Some accents send shivers down spines; using them in advertising can connect with people’s inner desires, shifting moods and motivations.
Sexy voices frequently have more impact on attracting attention than appearance alone. Some worldly speakers strike at the heart like a loosed arrow. Whether from their unique vocal sound or because of the cultural connotations of their accent.
Today we look into why some accents get our hearts racing and our knees shaking. The Voquent community also votes for their number one sexiest accent.
Exotic accents
The passionate Spanish, the alluring French, or the melodic Scottish are cultural generalisations of accents when used with a purpose.
So yes, when it comes to the sexiest accent in the world, certain nations are more likely to spring to mind than others, and this is partially due to the attached cultural assumptions.
Linguistic research finds that accents considered sexy usually suggest more than a pleasing sound. For example, the British accent may indicate intelligence and high social status, specifically attractive to Americans. However, Italian accents suggest intense romance and a laidback attitude that Europeusens find sexy.
Sometimes, however, it is not about a specific foreign-sounding accent. It is the unfamiliarity that’s enough to boost sex appeal.
The theory goes that foreign voices suggest a more exotic gene pool. The scientific attractiveness of a voice comes down to the subconscious assumptions towards reproductive success. Perhaps a little bit too biologically deterministic to answer this question completely, though.
Local accents
Whilst it’s recognised that exotic accents are considered sexy, some studies, including one at the University of British Columbia, have found that the more familiar end of the accent spectrum is also attractive. This study suggests that people tend to gravitate towards familiar voices to fulfil a sense of belonging. Our social groups are the most crucial factor in determining what voice we find the sexiest.
As both extremes of the familiar/exotic accent spectrum are considered sexy, this means any opinion on the sexiest accent in the world is likely to be biased. Therefore, the answer to this question will either be an accent similar to the individual or one which is entirely different and located on the other side of the planet. The sexiest accent in the world to someone from Columbia and someone from the UK is probably different. However, it’s entirely possible that these answers will be similar if the individual prefers the exotic over the familiar.
‘What is the sexiest accent in the world?’ is a difficult question to answer without relying on personal opinion. Ultimately, it depends on an individual’s tastes, social background, and geographical location. There are crossovers, and some accents are generally considered sexier than others on an international scale.
This is becoming difficult… Let’s ask the experts on voices; you!
The Voquent community poll
Is yours the sexiest accent in the world? We decided to be very democratic and put it to a vote.
Big Seven Travel infamously declared the Kiwi accent as the most attractive in the world in their poll. However, many met this decision and the second-place entry with surprise. Indeed, worldwide, people refused to believe it!
At Voquent, our own Twitter poll featured the same top 4 options (Kiwi, Irish, South African, and Italian). All are frequently top listers on this kind of survey from other sources.
Let’s find out what our community had to say.
1. Irish
The Voquent community has spoken! And this time around, the Irish accent has come out on top with more than half the votes as the world’s sexiest accent. Congratulations on getting the globe all hot and bothered whenever you speak.
Irish movie stars like Colin Farrell and Saoirse Ronan have shown the world exactly how sexy the accent can be – international audiences swooning whenever they talk.
Another potential reason the Irish accent is so sexy is its exceptionally soft and poetic sound. It’s one of the most unique accents, oozing charm and style.
2. Italian
With almost one-quarter of the votes in our poll, the Italian accent comes in second place.
The world has fallen in love with the Italian accent partly thanks to the Romantic portrayal of Italian Americans in pop culture. Italians influence everything, from incredible food and beautiful music to art and high-end fashion.
Ultimately, the Italian accent’s rhythmic, soft and appealing style ensures sex appeal. It’s also considered one of the most understandable when speaking other languages, making it more attractive to non-Italian speakers.
3. South African
Achieving just over 15% of the vote, the South African accent came third in the poll.
The South African accent, specifically Afrikaans, is one of the sexiest accents in the world. Thanks to its unique tones and slang, it sounds particularly remarkable. Cool.
The combination of multiple cultures has built the South African accent over time, and this diversity might be one of the reasons people find the accent so darn attractive. Believed to ‘sound happy’, this dialect seems to make others happy too, amongst other feelings.
4. Kiwi
Although the Kiwi accent was deemed the sexiest accent globally by Big Seven Travel, it’s clear that people in our community disagree – receiving only 6.1% of the overall vote.
The unique Kiwi accent has topped some lists of the sexiest accents in the world previously. Only 5 million people live in New Zealand, making the Kiwi accent relatively rare and more sought after.
The specific sounds that distinguish the Kiwi accent from the Australian accent and other dialects worldwide are all in the vowels. The short ‘I’ becomes a ‘U’. A classic example is ‘fish and chips’ becomes ‘fush and chups’.
The short ‘A’ also becomes an ‘E’, so ‘all blacks’ becomes ‘all blecks’. Oh, and speaking of the All Blacks (New Zealand’s highly renowned Rugby team), they might also have something to do with people regarding the New Zealand accent as sexy.
Honourable mentions
Australian
There are a few factors that lead to the Australian accent being sexy. Mainly, the world is exposed to the accent via media and therefore celebrities. Australia also has a very active outdoor culture and blistering heat, leading to tanned skin and fit bodies, an image we associate with the accent when we hear it.
Comparatively to other accents on this list, the Australian accent is also considered just as attractive on both men and women, meaning it may be one of the sexiest accents in the world for a more significant number of people, regardless of gender preference.
Scottish
Charm is the main reason given for the attractiveness of the Scottish accent. People love the accent due to the rolling ‘r’s, the lower pitch used to produce the correct sound and its generally relaxing tone. As one of the strongest accents, it is also considered difficult to understand, and a weaker twang is preferred.
The Scottish accent might be one of the sexiest accents in the world on men; however, it is not equally popular on women. This may be because the accent gives off a sense of ruggedness.
French
The French accent is considered one of the most sensual. After all, the language is known as the language of love – so is it any wonder we find it so sexy? Interestingly, the appeal in the French accent isn’t limited to the language. English speakers find the French accent more attractive when speaking English than when speaking French.
Some specifics of how the French accent is spoken may be the reason for its inherent sexiness. The French pronunciation involves many rounded lips to create the ‘U’ sound, which makes us think about kissing.
Studies have also found that husky and breathy voices are deemed more attractive, and the French accent mimics these tones in words like ‘Rouge’, which forces the speaker to use a deeper tone and pout their lips.
Spanish
Is Spanish the sexiest accent in the world? Many people believe so. The Spanish accent comes with the Latin temperament associated with a fiery passion, romance, and dancing flamenco.
The scientific explanation is due to tongue movements. Spanish uses shorter consonants and longer vowels which leads to a better flow than Slavic and Germanic languages, and this may be the key to the Spanish accent’s sex appeal.
Cultural stereotypes are also a major factor. The macho Casanova and the passionate women of telenovelas have spread beyond Spanish speaking countries to become an international stereotype elsewhere.
Conclusion
If you google what is the sexiest accent in the world, you’ll see countless studies and articles claiming different accents to be the sexiest. However, the same accent shortlist crops up repeatedly.
The Voquent community has voted the Irish accent as the sexiest accent globally. Let us know what you think by joining the conversation on Twitter.
Oh, and if you wish you sounded sexier, regardless of accent, check out the video below:
Were you attracted to your other half because of their sexy accent? ❤️
Listen to Sexy Voices
Hear accents from around the world.
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